Ice crusher



SePtl5, 1959 w. A. CHAPPELL ErAL 2,904,268

ICE CRUSHER Filed Aug. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (5.2 Wirf..

INVENTORS.

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Sept. 15, 1959 w. A. CHAPPELL ETAL 2,904,268

ICE CRUsx-IER Filed Aug. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. /fW//mm A. n/,oef

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4 TTRNEK United States Patent O ICE CRUSHER William A. Chappell, Lees Summit, and Robert J. Scott, Blue Springs, Mo., assignors to John C. Hockery, Kansas City, Mo., trustee Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,179

4 Claims. (Cl. 241-190) 2. with the' features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

In vthe accompanying drawings', which formy a part of theV specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith,` 'and in which like reference numerals indicate like partsin the various views:

Fig'. lis a 'side sectional view of an ice crusher embodying the invention, taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is 'a front sectional view taken along the line 2-2'of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional top view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

4 is an exploded perspective View showing the details of the comb retraction members and illustrating the manner of connection thereof with the wall of the ice crushing passageway;

than has been possible in the past and without requiring any reduction gearing between the motor and crushing mechanism. A feature of the invention in this connection is that the invention provides means supplementing the normal power of the motor for adding to the kinetic energy of the crushing mechanism and for reducing the effect of cyclic impact loads on the motor during the crushing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric motor operated ice crusher having means operable may be composed of metal or plastic.

to permit the passage through the crushing mechanism i of large pieces or cubes of ice or like objects which have sufficient resistance or lhardness to stop the electric motor and jam the unit. It is a feature of the inventionthat adjustment of the crushing mechanism to produce ice crushed to different degrees of ineness is also provided in combination with the jam clearing means just mentioned.

A further object of the invention -is to provide improved -ice crushing mechanism in which a rotary element coacts with a stationary element to subdivide the ice, the stationary element being adjustable toward and away from the rotary element to vary the ineness of crushing, and a feature of the invention in this respect resides in the means for supporting the stationary element so as to provide greater strength in the crushing mechanism while still permitting free and positive adjustment."l v

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electric motor driven ice crusher in which a normally closed gate or door is provided for the ice inlet, the gate or door being mounted for inward deflection when ice is introduced therethrough and yieldably biased to return to the closed position following introduction of the ice, thus to prevent either uncrushed or crushed particles from bouncing back through the inlet.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric motor driven ice crusher in which the ice inlet is so located with respect to the crushing mechanism as to discourage accidental Contact of the fingers of the user therewith.

Other objects of the invention are: to provide an elec- Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the yieldable catch members for the retraction sleeve; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the comb element forming a part of the crushing element. Referring to the drawings, at 10 is indicated the base of the unit, the base in the preferred embodiment comprisingan annular, generally rectangular member which Secured to the base is a housing 11 which defines a protective enclosure for the unit. The housing may also be molded from a suitable plastic or metal as a single piece. At the bottom of `tliefhousing is a floor or shelf 12 which is secured at spacedintervals around its periphery to the lower edge of housing 11 and to the base member 10. Slidably fitting Within the housing is an open-top generally rectangular receptacle 13, the bottom of the receptacle slidably resting on oor 12. The receptacle is inserted through one side wall of casing 10 into the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an aperture of corresponding size being provided in the side wall. It will be noted that the outer end 13a of the receptacle is formed to reflect the general shape of the side wall of the housing and to form a continuation thereof.

Positioned above the receptacle is a combined motor support and ice passageway member which is preferably cast as a one-piece structure, this member being generally indicated at 14. In plan, member 14 is substantially rectangular and it is of substantially the same horizontal dimensions as the inside of housing 10 whereby the periphery of member 14 extends around and is closely adjacent the inside surface of the housing. Member 14 is firmly supported in the position shown by four brace members 15, the lower ends of which are supported by the base 10 and the upper ends of which are provided with flanges 15a which lie at against and are secured to the'under side of member 14 by rivets 16. The braces 15 are preferably located at the corners of the unit and are so spaced as to permit free insertion and removal of receptacle 13.

Formed in member 14 near one end and extending therethrough is a substantially vertical ice receiving passageway or chamber 17 open at its top and bottom. The walls of passageway 17 are formed as a large tubular extension 14a rising upwardly from the base of member 14. Located to one side yof extension 14a is a motor block .14b on which is mounted a conventional electric motor 18. As shown in Fig. 3, preferably the sides of block 14b are provided with heat radiating tins 14C. The motor is secured rrnly in place on the block by means 'of an inverted U-shaped hold-down strap 19 having out-turned ends which are secured to lateral extensions 14d on opposite sides of the block by means of screws 20. Ventilating apertures 11a are provided in the housing 11 in the vicinity of motor 18 to provide for circulation of air over the motor during operatlon.

Projecting from the inner end of motor 18 is the conventional drive shaft 21. This shaft is joumaled 1 mmediately adjacent the end of the motor in a bearing 21a which is carried by an upstanding bracket 14e rising from and integral with motor block 14b. Bracket 14e is spaced from the adjacent wall of ice passageway 17 and mounted on the shaft between the bracket and said Iwall is a ily wheel 22. Fly wheel 22 is secured to shaft 21 for rotation therewith by means of a lateral set screw 23 extending laterally through the hub thereof and engaging the shaft. For providing convenient access to set screw 23 a radial aligned aperture 22a may be formed in the peripheral flange of the y wheel as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, shaft 21 extends transversely through passageway 17 and is journaled at its end in a bearing 24 supported in a suitable aperture in wall 14a of the passageway. An aperture is provided in the side wall of the passageway adjacent ily wheel 22, permitting passage of the shaft therethrough.

That portion of shaft 21 within passageway 17 forms a rotary element on which are located a plurality of cutting blades or talons 26. The talons 26 are secured to the shaft for rotation therewith and are preferably blade-like in formation. Two pairs of talons are shown, one pair being located diametrically opposite the other pair, and the talons are staggered longitudinally of the shaft. Preferably the talons of each pair comprise extensions frorn a plate 27 which is secured to a flattened portion of the shaft by means of a screw 28.

Also disposed within passageway 17 and combining with the rotary shaft 21 to obstruct the passage of cubes of ice therethrough is a comb element 29. In Fig. 7 the comb element is shown separated from the rest of the structure. As will be evident, it preferably comprises a member formed of parallel rods or wires 30 connected together by a central cross rod 31. The parallel rods are welded to the cross rod. At one end the parallel rods have formed thereon eyes 30a which are aligned on a common axis to receive a pivot pin 32 (Fig. l) which extends across passageway 17 in a direction parallel to shaft 21 and is journaled at its ends in the opposite side walls of the passageway. The other ends of the rods 30 are preferably bent upwardly as at 3Ilb to form teeth which mesh with talons 26 on shaft 21. As shown in Fig. 2 the rods 30 are so spaced that the talons 26 are free to move between the teeth as the shaft 21 rotates.

The comb element 29 is supported in a generally horizontal position within passageway 17 by means of a thrust link 33 which is welded centrally to its under side and extends downwardly and outwardly to connect with the inner end of a thrust member 34. The thrust member 34, in its preferred form, comprises a threaded shaft which is received in an internally threaded sleeve 35 supported by and secured to the wall 14a of passageway 17. The manner in which sleeve 35 is secured in place will be described at a later point herein. For present purposes it can be considered as immovably xed in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The link 33 is connected with the inner end of thrust member 34 by means of an eye 33a on the link fwhich is rotatably received in an annular groove near the end of the thrust member. The outer end of thrust member 34 (the end outside the casing) is provided with a hand knob 34a by which the thrust member can be turned within sleeve 35. Depending on the direction of rotation of knob 34a, the threaded connection between the thrust member and sleeve will cause the thrust member to move longitudinally within the sleeve and, acting i through thrust link 33, cause pivoting of comb element 29 about its axis 32. While the movement of thrust member 34 is in a straight line rather than on an arc, the link 33 is sufficiently exible to adjust itself to the slight discrepancy between straight line and arcuate movement.

Pivoting of the comb element about its axis changes the position of the comb element relative shaft 21 and thus changes the relationship between the talons 26 and the teeth 30d. This adjustment of the comb element (which may be termed as fine adjustment) is employed to vary the iineness of the crushed ice. Movement outward `of thrust member 34 draws teeth 3011 away from shaft 21 thus to increase the size of the chopped or crushed particles and movement inward moves the teeth toward the shaft to decrease the size of the particles. lt will therefore be evident that through the turning of knob 34a on the exterior of the casing, the relationship between teeth 30h and talons 26 can be changed as desired within the limits of the longitudinal movement of thrust member 34 in the sleeve.

On the opposite side of passageway 17 from comb element 29 is a guard extension 14f which is preferably formed integral with the wall of the passageway and extends inwardly therefrom. As shown in Fig. 3, guard member 14f is provided with spaced slots which permit the passage of talons or blades 26 therethrough during rotation `of the latter. The guard 14j is for the purpose of insuring that all ice is directed through the crushing mechanism comprising the talons 26 and comb element 29.

The cubes or other relatively large pieces of ice are introduced into the upper end of passageway 17 through a chute 36 located above the passageway and communieating therewith. The chute 36 is formed within a cast member 37 which seats `on top of the tubular extension 14a defining the walls of passageway 17. A portion 37a on member 37 telescopically fits over the upper end of extension 14a to maintain member 37 in place thereon. The chute 36 extends laterally toward the front A chute.

of the housing 11 where it registers with an opening 11b in the casing through which cubes or pieces of ice can be introduced into the chute. It will be noted that the floor of the chute is slightly inclined to aid in guiding the ice into the passageway 17.

Disposed adjacent the inlet to the chute is a gate or door forming a closure for the chute. The gate 38 is pivoted for free movement about an axis 39 and is of a length such that its lower edge is engaged by the inclined oor of the chute to prevent outward movement of the gate from its normal depending position illustrated in Fig. 1. The gate is free, however, to swing inwardly and upwardly about its axis as cubes of ice are forced into the The gate is yieldably biased toward the closed position (inthe preferred embodiment by its own weight) so that following the introduction of the ice the gate will close automatically to prevent retrograde movement of cubes or particles through the inlet during crushing.

One of the important features of the invention is that means are provided for swinging the comb element 29 completely clear from the path of talons 26 to take care of the possibility of the unit becoming jammed in use. Occasionally an extremely hard cube or other object becomes engaged between the talons and comb and is of such hardness as to overcome the motor, thus jamming the unit. In the present invention, such a cube or object Vcan be passed in whole condition through the crushing zone in order to free the rotary element.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, it will be noted that the sleeve 35, which provides the support for thrust member 34, 'extends through successive registering apertures in the housingll and wall 14a of passageway 17. The aperture in housing 11 is indicated at 11c (see Fig. 4) and is circular. The aperture 40 in Wall 14a is of a symmetrical keyhole-like configuration. Secured to the outside surface vof wall 14a is a thin bearing plate 41 which is set in a recess in the wall and is secured thereto by rivets georges 42.*(Figsf. l and 4). Thebaring plate 41 is apertured centrally to correspond to the aperture in Wall 14a.

Formed on the inner end of sleeve 35 and spaced from an annular bearing face 35a thereon are la pair of diametrically opposed ears or dogs 35b of a size and shape adapted to pass through the keyhole aperture 40 in Wall 14a when the dogs 35b are aligned withthe extended areas of the aperture. During normal usage of the unit the `clogs 35b are turned at 90 with respect to the extended areas of aperture 40 and thus engage the inside surface of Wall 14a. The bearing face 35a on the sleeve abuts the face of plate 41 on the outside of wall 14a and thus the sleeve is secured in place.

The dogs 35b are yieldably engaged on the inside of wall 14a by catches 43 best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. A pair of catches 43 are provided, one above and the other below aperture 40. Each catch comprises a piece of resilient sheet metal formed to the shape shown and riveted to wall 14a by the rivets 42 which serve to secure bearing plate 41 to the passageway wall. Each catch is provided with a pocket 43a formed to receive the dogs 35b when they are turned to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. An arcuate camming surface 43b is located in advance of the pocket, this surface being engaged by its respective dog as the sleeve is turned after insertion thereof through slot 40 and causing the catch 43 to spring outwardly until the dog reaches the position where it is aligned with the pocket. The catch then snaps back toward wall 14a to enclose the dog in the pocket as shown in Fig. 5. The metal or other material of which catches 43 are composed should be suiciently stiff to retain the dogs 35b during normal turning of thrust member 34 in either direction.

Formed on the outer end of sleeve 35 outside casing 11 is an enlarged circular hand knob 35C, this knob being provided with a anged rim in which are for-med peripheral indentations to oer a convenient gripping surface for the fingers of the operator.

To swing the comb element 29 away from the shaft 21 to a position Where it lies substantially vertical below its axis 32 (as shown in the broken lines in Fig. l), it is necessary only to grasp the rim of knob 35C and turn it so that the dogs 35b make a quarter turn clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5. If suicient turning force is applied, dogs 35b will cause catches 43 to spring outwardly, thus freeing the lugs. When the dogs are aligned with the extended areas of aperture 40, the sleeve can be withdrawn axially `away from the casing, carrying with it the thrust member 34 and thus drawing link 33 through aperture 40 and aperture 11b in the casing. As the link moves outwardly comb element 29 pivots downwardly about its axis 32 and the teeth 30b are withdrawn from the talons 26 to a point spaced a considerable distance therefrom.

It will be noted that in order to facilitate complete retraction of comb element 29, the radial distance between the point of connection of link 33 with the comb element and the axis 32 of the comb element is substantially equal to the spacing of the center of sleeve 35 below the axis 32. Thelink 33 is also given a curvature which insures its free travel through apertures 40 rand 11b during retraction.

Once the crushing mechanism is cleared, the comb element is returned to operative position by inserting sleeve 35 in the apertures and turning it until the dogs 35b are again confined by the catches 43 as earlier described. The camming surfaces 43b ride up on the dogs las the sleeve is rotated, thus springing the catches 43 away from the wall of the casing until the dogs have reached position where the catches again spring back to confine them within the pockets 43a.

The operation of the crusher is believed evident from the foregoing description. Cubes or other relatively large pieces of ice are introduced into the chute 36 from whence they travel into the crushing zone defined by passageway 17. There they are engaged by the comb element 29 while the rotary talons 26 subdivide them into particles' of desired size.` The crushed or .chopped ice then descends i-nto the receptacle 13 which may be withdrawn for removal of the crushed particles. The fly wheel 22 insures of continuous and smooth operation of the unit, aiding the motor in overcoming the cyclic uctuations and resistance to rotation as the talons 26 become successively engaged with the uncrushed particles.

To adjust the iineness of the crushed particles, itis necessary only to turn knob 34a in one direction or the other, as previously explained. If ever the machine is jammed with a whole cube which is hard enough to prevent the talons 26 Ifrom breaking through, sleeve 35 can be detached as hereinbefore set forth and the comb element 29 dropped to a substantially vertical position below its axis 32 to permit the offending cube to drop in the receptacle in whole condition. Following this, the sleeve can be replaced and the unit is prepared for continuous operation.

During operation, any bouncing back or throwing of cubes or particles outwardly from chute 36 is prevented by the gate 38 which automatically closes following i11- sertion of cubes into the chute.

` From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attainv all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subtcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as iilustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l1. In an electric motor driven ice Crusher, a motor support block, an electric motor mounted on said block and having a horizontally disposed armature shaft projecting axially from one end of the motor, an armature shaft bearing bracket extending upwardly from and integral with said block, said shaft extending through a bearing aperture in said bracket, a substantially vertical ice receiving passageway formed integral with said block and spaced away from said bracket in .the direction of projection of said shaft, a fly wheel mounted on said shaft between said bracket and said passageway, said shaft extending through said passageway, a bearing on the other side of said passageway journaling the end of said shaft, laterally extending ice crushing talons secured to said shaft within said passageway, and cooperating crushing elements mounted inside said passageway and adapted .to coact with said talons to subdivide ice introduced into said passageway.

2. In an electric motor driven ice Crusher, a generally rectangular base, a plurality of upright supports secured at their lower ends to said base and spaced around the periphery thereof, a combined motor support block and ice passageway member substantially centered above said base and supported thereabove on the upper ends of said supports to provide a space between said member and said base, the upper surface of said member providing a support area for an electric motor, an electric motor mounted on said area, said motor having an armature shaft projecting horizontally from one end thereof, a generally vertical ice passageway for-med in said member and open at its top and bottom, said passage- Way being located so that said shaft extends transversely therethrough with the shaft passing through opposite side walls of the passageway, cooperating ice crushing elements mounted respectively on the shaft and the inside of the passageway and adapted to coact to subdivide ice introduced into said passageway from the top, and

a horizontally removable receptacle positioned between said member and said base, said receptacle being of substantially equal horizontal dimensions with said member and adapted to receive subdivided ice from the open bottom of said passageway, said supports being so positioned as to provide for free insertion and removal of the receptacle.

3. In an ice Crusher, an ice receiving passageway open at the top and bottom, a rotary element disposed transversely in said p assageway and having spaced laterally projecting talons `thereon,`means for rotating said element, a comb element also within said passageway and having one end pivoted about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of said rotary element, the other end of said comb element dening teeth so spaced as to permit the free passage therebetween of the talons on said rotary element, a sleeve extending through and supported in an aperture in one wall of said passageway, a thrust member extending through said sleeve and having an operative relationship therewith whereby said thrust member can be moved longitudinally within said sleeve in either direction, means connecting the inner end of said thrust member with said comb element at a point remote from the pivot axis of the comb element whereby longitudinal movement of the thrust member causes said comb member to pivot about its axis, and means detachably connecting said sleeve with said wall whereby said sleeve and thrust member can be withdrawn outwardly through said aperture as a unit thereby to retract said comb element to a position wherein a substantial gap is opened between said comb element and said talons.

4. In an ice crusher, an ice receiving passageway open at the top and bottom, a rotary element disposed transversely in said passageway and having spaced laterally projecting talons thereon, means for rotating said element, a combA element also within said passageway and having one end pivoted about an axis parallel to but spaced from the axis of said rotary element, the other end of said comb element delining teeth so spaced as to permit the free passage therebetween of the talons on said rotary element, a sleeve extending through and supported in an aperture in one wall of said passageway, a thrust member extending axially through said sleeve and threadedly connected therewith whereby rotation of said thnlst member relative said sleeve causes longitudinal movement of the thrust member in the sleeve, means connecting the inner end of said thrust member with said comb element at a point remote from the' pivot axis of the comb element whereby longitudinal movement of the thrust member causes said comb member to pivot about its axis to change the radial distancel of said comb teeth from the rotary element thereby toy the rotary element when the talons thereon engage said.

objects, said means including yieldable mechanism engaging said sleeve to prevent rotation thereof during rotation of said thrust member.

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